Movements Into and Out of Child Poverty in New Zealand: Results from the Linked Income Supplement

This paper considers the dynamics of child income poverty in New Zealand. Annual movements into and out of poverty by children’s households in New Zealand over the 1997/98, 1998/99, and 1999/2000 periods are analysed. The annual Income Supplement to the Household Labour Force Survey allows tracking of dwellings and people in two consecutive June quarterly weeks, and thus allows observation of changes in equivalised household disposable income over a June year. This project is the first to use the Linked Income Survey for analysis of income dynamics and is part of the Ministry of Social Policy’s ongoing research on family dynamics.New Zealand adult and child poverty transitions are compared. Child poverty transitions in New Zealand are compared and contrasted to those of five other countries—Britain, Germany, Hungary, Russia and Spain—where a similar current income measure of poverty is available. The frequency of poverty “trigger events” in New Zealand and their impact on the chances of children exiting and entering poverty are compared to similar data for Britain and West Germany.child poverty, household income, income mobility

Movements Into and Out of Child Poverty in New Zealand: Results from the Linked Income Supplement

This paper considers the dynamics of child income poverty in New Zealand. Annual movements into and out of poverty by children's households in New Zealand over the 1997/98, 1998/99, and 1999/2000 periods are analysed. The annual Income Supplement to the Household Labour Force Survey allows tracking of dwellings and people in two consecutive June quarterly weeks, and thus allows observation of changes in equivalised household disposable income over a June year. This project is the first to use the Linked Income Survey for analysis of income dynamics and is part of the Ministry of Social Policy's ongoing research on family dynamics. New Zealand adult and child poverty transitions are compared. Child poverty transitions in New Zealand are compared and contrasted to those of five other countries-Britain, Germany, Hungary, Russia and Spain-where a similar current income measure of poverty is available. The frequency of poverty "trigger events" in New Zealand and their impact on the chances of children exiting and entering poverty are compared to similar data for Britain and West Germany.Child poverty, household income, income mobility

a aparición de regularidades y variabilidad en ecosistemas marinos: el papel combinado de la física, la química y la biología

Marine ecosystems play an integral role in the functioning of life on earth. To predict how they will respond to global changes, and to effectively manage and maintain services upon which humans rely, we must understand how biological processes at the cellular level generate macroscopic patterns in the oceans. Here, we discuss how physics and biogeochemistry influence and constrain marine ecosystem structure and function, and outline key regularities and patterns of variability that models should aim to reproduce. We identify unanswered questions regarding how size-dependent physiological and ecological processes are linked to turbulent mixing, dealing specifically with how size structure is related to mixing over a range of spatial scales and how it is linked to the fate of primary production in the sea.Los ecosistemas marinos juegan un papel integral en el funcionamiento de la vida sobre la Tierra. Para predecir cómo van a responder a cambios globales y para mantener los servicios de los cuales los humanos dependemos, tenemos que comprender cómo los procesos biológicos a nivel celular generan patrones macroscópicos en el océano. Examinamos cómo la física y la biogeoquímica afectan y limitan la estructura y función de los ecosistemas marinos, y exponemos importantes regularidades y patrones de variabilidad que los modelos deberían reproducir. Identificamos aspectos sin resolver sobre la relación entre procesos fisiológicos y ecológicos y la mezcla turbulenta. En concreto, cómo la estructura de tamaños está relacionada con la mezcla en un rango de escalas espaciales y cómo está conectada con el destino de la producción primaria en el mar

Critical conversations: Social workers' perceptions of the use of a closed Facebook group as a participatory professional space.

INTRODUCTION: The rise of social media has been associated with the rapid growth in different forms of digital networking, debate and activism. Many studies have traced the role of social media in mobilising people to take action on shared issues of concern across the world. Yet while networked public spaces offer many possibilities for engagement and interaction, the technology also shapes social dynamics raising questions about privacy, professional boundaries and the nature of online behaviour. METHOD: The development of a closed professional group on the social networking site Facebook provided an ideal opportunity to explore the perceptions of social workers of their use of participatory public space for professional deliberation and debate about public issues. Members of the group were invited to complete an online survey; eleven social workers accepted invitations to be further interviewed and their subsequent interviews were thematically analysed. FINDINGS: Social workers involved in the Facebook group benefitted from the resources, research and professional development opportunities afforded to them as members and supported the professional potential and promise of social networking sites. They grappled with what constitutes ethical online behaviour, or netiquette, and identified the limitations and strengths of the social networking group as a place to promote robust professional dialogue and action on social issues. IMPLICATIONS: Analysis of social worker experience within participatory public spaces offers insight into how the profession can develop modern communication strategies and strong communities of practice in line with its professional principles and mandate

Predictors of excellent early outcome after total hip arthroplasty

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Not all patients gain the same degree of improvement from total hip replacement and the reasons for this are not clear. Many investigators have assessed predictors of general outcome after hip surgery. This study is unique in its quest for the predictors of the best possible early outcome.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We prospectively collected data on 1318 total hip replacements. Prior to surgery patient characteristics, demographics and co-morbidities were documented. Hip function and general health was assessed using the Harris Hip score (HHS) and the Short-Form 36 respectively. The HHS was repeated at three years. We took a maximal HHS of 100 to represent an excellent outcome (102 patients). Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent predictors of excellent outcome.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The two strongest predictive factors in achieving an excellent result were young age and a high pre-operative HHS (p = 0.001).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>It was the young and those less disabled from their arthritis that excelled at three years. When making a decision about the timing of hip arthroplasty surgery it is important to take into account the age and pre-operative function of the patient. Whether these patients continue to excel however will be the basis of future research.</p

To post or not to post? Perceptions of the use of a closed Facebook group as a networked public space

Members of a closed Facebook group, established to discuss professional social work issues, were surveyed to explore what they valued about the group, the problems or issues associated with membership, and factors associated with participation or reluctance to participate. A non-probability, self-selection sample (N = 53) completed an online survey during January and February 2016. Survey findings suggest that participants valued feeling connected to a community of practice, the ability to post and share information, and access to news and information. However, participants also expressed concern about online incivility and experienced reluctance to post opinions because of concerns about the critical comments of others

Requirement for sphingosine kinase 1 in mediating phase 1 of the hypotensive response to anandamide in the anaesthetised mouse

In the isolated rat carotid artery, the endocannabinoid anandamide induces endothelium-dependent relaxation via activation of the enzyme sphingosine kinase (SK). This generates sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) which can be released from the cell and activates S1P receptors on the endothelium. In anaesthetised mice, anandamide has a well-characterised triphasic effect on blood pressure but the contribution of SK and S1P receptors in mediating changes in blood pressure has never been studied. Therefore, we assessed this in the current study. The peak hypotensive response to 1 and 10 mg/kg anandamide was measured in control C57BL/6 mice and in mice pretreated with selective inhibitors of SK1 (BML-258, also known as SK1-I) or SK2 ((R)-FTY720 methylether (ROMe), a dual SK1/2 inhibitor (SKi) or an S1P1 receptor antagonist (W146). Vasodilator responses to S1P were also studied in isolated mouse aortic rings. The hypotensive response to anandamide was significantly attenuated by BML-258 but not by ROMe. Antagonising S1P1 receptors with W146 completely blocked the fall in systolic but not diastolic blood pressure in response to anandamide. S1P induced vasodilation in denuded aortic rings was blocked by W146 but caused no vasodilation in endothelium-intact rings. This study provides evidence that the SK1/S1P regulatory-axis is necessary for the rapid hypotension induced by anandamide. Generation of S1P in response to anandamide likely activates S1P1 to reduce total peripheral resistance and lower mean arterial pressure. These findings have important implications in our understanding of the hypotensive and cardiovascular actions of cannabinoids

Efficacy and safety of elinzanetant, a selective neurokinin-1,3 receptor antagonist for vasomotor symptoms: a dose-finding clinical trial (SWITCH-1)

OBJECTIVE: Neurokinin (NK)-3 and NK-1 receptors have been implicated in the etiology of vasomotor symptoms (VMS) and sleep disturbances associated with menopause. This phase 2b, adaptive, dose-range finding study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of multiple doses of elinzanetant (NT-814), a selective NK-1,3 receptor antagonist, in women experiencing VMS associated with menopause, and investigate the impact of elinzanetant on sleep and quality of life. METHODS: Postmenopausal women aged 40 to 65 years who experienced seven or more moderate-to-severe VMS per day were randomized to receive elinzanetant 40, 80, 120, or 160 mg or placebo once daily using an adaptive design algorithm. Coprimary endpoints were reduction in mean frequency and severity of moderate-to-severe VMS at weeks 4 and 12. Secondary endpoints included patient-reported assessments of sleep and quality of life. RESULTS: Elinzanetant 120 mg and 160 mg achieved reductions in VMS frequency versus placebo from week 1 throughout 12 weeks of treatment. Least square mean reductions were statistically significant versus placebo at both primary endpoint time points for elinzanetant 120 mg (week 4: -3.93 [SE, 1.02], P \u3c 0.001; week 12: -2.95 [1.15], P = 0.01) and at week 4 for elinzanetant 160 mg (-2.63 [1.03]; P = 0.01). Both doses also led to clinically meaningful improvements in measures of sleep and quality of life. All doses of elinzanetant were well tolerated. CONCLUSIONS: Elinzanetant is an effective and well-tolerated nonhormone treatment option for postmenopausal women with VMS and associated sleep disturbance. Elinzanetant also improves quality of life in women with VMS